You Know You Drive a Diesel When....

So, I am a female diesel driver. I don't have a huge truck, but rather a VW Jetta. I love my little car, but I do get a lot of funny looks from the truck drivers when I pull my little 4-door up to the diesel tank at different gas stations. Anyway, you know you drive a diesel when...

1. Your friends ask you why your car sounds like a Mac Truck.

2. You pay a dollar more per gallon than gasoline drivers have to.

3. You get stuck behind trucks that are carrying farm equipment in the back when you are trying to quickly fill your 12 gallon tank.

4. You wonder if your loud engine wakes the neighbors when you leave early in the morning.

5. You only get your oil changed every 10,000 miles (that's definitely a plus!)

6. When you take your car to the shop because it doesn't work right, you get asked if you are putting the right kind of fuel in the tank...(the worker wondered if I was putting gasoline in my diesel tank)

Ten Restaurants I'd Rather Not Dine At....

Are there restaurants that kind of turn your stomach if you think about them? Maybe it's because their food made you sick once...or maybe you found a container of worms under your table (yes, this did happen to me)...or maybe you just don't like what they have to offer..Here's my list.

1. Golden Corral. I'm really not into the whole buffet thing...and I did happen to find a container of live worms under my table while eating here once. They were enclosed...but if gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it.

2. Old Country Buffet...again...it's a buffet. I've heard too many stories about people not washing their hands..and I'll leave it at that.

3. Any Chinese restaurant. I've tried and I've tried to like Chinese food...I just can't do it!

4. Denny's. I once had a horrible date (a pick-a-date for you Cedarvillians) that took me to this restaurant. He didn't talk to me the ENTIRE night. I thought my night might improve if I ordered a chocolate malt. I was wrong....it ended up being really grainy...and nasty.

5. White Castle. Need I say more?

6. Hardees. I once ordered a mushroom melt here as a child. My dad was paying and picking up the food. I decided to use the restroom...and while I was in there a lady hawked a loogey in the sink. (I have no idea how to spell 'hawk a loogey' I was never taught that in school!) Yuck. I can't erase this horrible memory from my mind. Plus...I don't like fast food. I know, I'm a snot.

7. Burger King....again it is fast food.

8. McDonalds...I hate it when I have to go here..there's my aversion to fast food again.

9. Taco Bell. The little dog just ruins it for me (the food is not that great either!)

10.Boston Market. The whole cafeteria set up makes me feel like I'm back in college.

Which resaurants would you rather not eat at?

Are People Getting Weirder?

I've noticed a lot of strange things these last couple of years...it makes me wonder if people are getting weirder...or am I just always in the "right place at the right time" to witness the weirdness?

1. There's a lady in our city that hula-hoops. You say, "Caron, that's not that weird!" Let me set the scene. She carries her own little boom box to the middle of a divided street...and this isn't just any street...It happens to be extremely busy road. There are traffic jams, whizzing fire trucks and of course funny stares. Yet, she keeps on swivelin' those hips. There's even been articles written about her in the local newspaper.

2. When I worked at a gym, there was a guy that came in whom we called "Dance Party" He would stand in front of the mirrors and dance with a pole for about an hour. He was interesting to say the least.

3. There was another interesting character that used to come into the gym I worked at. He would carry a pair of dress shoes in his hands (he had the exact same pair on his feet) and he dressed up in a tweed suit coat with black pants every time he came to the gym. Not only did he wear this outfit to the gym...he also exercised in it. Oh..he did change his dress shoes to another pair of dress shoes to walk on the treadmill of course. After he walked for 10 minutes, he would sit on the end of the treadmill..change his shoes and watch people...

4. One last gym story. There was a lady who exercised at gym that we called "Dress Fun" She told one of the trainers the first day she was in that she liked to "Dress Fun" so hence the name. Boy was she right! She was not a tiny lady...and LOVED to wear THONG leotards that were cheetah print and other various shades of...shall I say it...hideousness! I think she knew she dressed a little crazy...but she continued to live up to her name.

5. I run into all kinds of interesting people at the hospital..but can't relate the stories for HIPPA purposes. Boy there are some good ones though!

6. Well...that's my "weird" stories for now...I probably shouldn't write anymore, because for all I know there's someone writing a "weird" story about me somewhere too...I just like to think that I happen to see these people in their weirdest moments...and all their other moments in life are completely "normal!" I always hope that people will give ME the benefit of the doubt when they catch me in a weird moment! :)

Twiddlin' My Thumbs...

So, I just got out of school on Thursday...and I was ecstatic...Here's what I've done so far.

1. I washed all the kitchen cupboards off with bleach

2. I washed the doors with bleach.

3. I cleaned three blinds.

4. I've ironed about 11 shirts.

5. I washed the kitchen floor.

6. I downloaded about 120 photos on facebook.

7. I washed all of the floors in the downstairs.

8. I've thought about starting an "eating plan"

9. I watched Hancock.

10. I'm now going to grade papers for my husband.

11. Mostly...I'm just twiddlin' my thumbs. What do you do on your vacation?

Would You Rather??...A Great Christmas Gift

Last week my sister and brother-in-law gave us the game "Would You Rather?" by Zobmondo!! I've always been a fan of making up would you rather questions on my own, (I even forced my husband to answer all of my would you rather questions when we were dating so I could get to know him better) but this game takes the WYR questions to the next level. It is hilarious!! Here's a few reasons you should play this game.

1. You'll laugh so hard your cheeks hurt.

2. You'll laugh so hard that your stomach hurts also.

3. You might even cry you laugh so hard.

I love this game!!

Cookies are EVIL.

My husband and I love cookies...I think it's part of what brought us together as a couple (our love for cookies and for each other of course). I've decided that cookies are almost as evil as cheesecake..here's why.

Cookies are EVIL becuase...

1. You CAN'T eat just one.

2. They are packed full of calories. Yesterday I was looking at the calorie content of my favorite type of cookie...470 calories for 1 serving!

3. They are everywhere.

4. Lastly, they are evil because they don't seem evil. Who would have guessed that one cookie would contain as many calories as one full meal. Therefore, they are sneaky which equals evil.

I Thought I Was Patient Until.....

I used to think I was a patient person until....

1. I went shopping on Black Friday....loud,obnoxious Christmas music, large crowds and I don't mix!

2. I watched a child for an extended period of time....don't get me wrong...I LOVE children...but I'm always happy to give them back to their parents.

3. I tried to sew something.

4. I started nursing school.

5. I lived with room mates..(don't get me wrong ex-roomies-I love you all!)...I just found out that I needed to increase my patience in certain areas :)

6. I tried to lose weight.

7. I usually find out how impatient I am when I try to check my e-mail on a SLOW computer.

What situations make you realize you aren't as patient as you thought?

Just Say "No" to....

1. Drugs...of course.

2. Chicken patties...my husband brought about 15 breaded chicken patties home the other week. I had to say no..it reminded me too much of college and working at camp.

3. Studying on a Friday night...I'll admit that sometimes this one is hard for me.

4. Printing out all of your powerpoints for school....I decided it was time to join the technological age of at least the 90's...apparently printing out 70 pages of notes a day is expensive :)

5. Picking up a dead bug if you and your husband decided that was part of his role before you got married (if you didn't...then you're stuck) Sorry Joel..at least I'm killing some of them now. (I used to make him jump out of the shower if I saw a bug I was too afraid to kill..ha..I have such a great husband)

6. Stressing out about school..can someone teach me how to do this?

7. Spending too much time on facebook...I know, I know...it's hard!

Having a Bad Day Again?

I must say that I am not completely enjoying school at this point in my life. There are some students that live for studying and going through the entire process. I am NOT one of them. Therefore, I decided to make a bad day list that would make me feel better every time I feel like my day is not going so great. Feel free to add to the list.

1. Only 2 1/2 weeks until Thanksgiving!! Yipee!

2. Gas prices are going down! Wahoo!

3. There are no more election commercials on the radio...I think that makes my day almost 10% better.

4. I always look at people who are having horrible days...and that makes my day feel a bit better...So...hallelujah...my car has not broken down on the side of the highway today.

5. It's fall...and there's no snow on the ground! This is a new concept for me...I just moved to VA from MN about a year and a half ago.

6. I have a 36 pack of Diet Coke in the fridge.

7. I don't have a horrible hair cut or dye job right now....whenever that happens...it makes my days 500 times worse.
That's my list which is pretty sad...you should really add to it!

I'm Waiting For...

I feel like I'm always waiting for something...here's a few things I've been waiting for lately.

1. My bedroom furniture. We bought it in the beginning of October. We didn't get it until Halloween.

2. Baseball season. This is the only sport my husband does not enjoy watching on television. Here's a list of things you can do if your husband/boyfriend is a mega sports fan...

3. Graduation. Oh my word...I CAN NOT WAIT for school to be over.

4. A trip up to MN. I've been craving Rice Krispy Bars with Chocolate on top. No one down here knows what those are. I can't make them right....I'll just have to wait another month I guess.

What are you waiting for?

There's Just Something About Going Green...That I'm Just Not So Sure About!

So it seems that the biggest catch phrase of the decade is "Going Green." It appears that if you are going anywhere...you are "going green." I agree with many aspects of going green, but here are the parts I may not be so sure about.

1. Why is it that only rich people can afford to "be green?" Is it the latest status symbol for adults? Does it not seem to separate the haves from the have-nots? (Ex...well...I only buy organic tomatoes...whereas the ____'s buy normal tomatoes. I must be a better person because I am saving the earth by spending more money."

2. If grocery stores really wanted to save the earth...why did they stop giving the option of paper or plastic? Paper is recyclable...plastic is not. Now WE have to buy a bag to put all of our groceries in. I'm not saying that buying bags to put your groceries in is not smart...yet it also seems like another status symbol.

3. Is it a ploy to make one feel better about oneself? See number one.

4. No matter how hard you try...you can not be perfectly "green" If you want to completely eradicate the effect you have on the environment..you mine as well cease to live. For example...Al Gore is a great advocate of greeness..or is he?

So these are a couple of thoughts that have been provoked over the last week after talking to a couple of people. Don't get me wrong....I'm all about saving the environment...I'm just a little confused as to why "going green" seems to be another area of life that separates the poor from the rich. Am I totally wrong? What do you think about it?

You Might Be Sensitive IF....

You just might be sensitive if...

1. You tear up when you hear the country song "don't laugh at me..don't call me names."

2. You feel slightly bad when your husband's bestfriend and little brother make fun of you on face book.

3. You reach for a kleenex when you spot a car with a "In Memory Sticker" stuck to their back windshield.

4. You cried OUT LOUD at the movie theater while watching Titanic.

5. You want to hug every crying child you see.

6. You shed a little tear when you realize you aren't going to be home for the holidays. (I only did that ONCE)

7. You cry at weddings...even if you don't know the couple.

Okay...so this list is not entirely about me...I may be sensitive..but not THAT sensitive:) Don't make fun of my list or I might cry! j/k.

There's Just Something About Being 26

I've been contemplating my age lately. Here are a few things that I have come up with.

1. The other day I realized that I actually do wonder "where the years went?" In high school I used to wonder where the days went...NOW IT'S YEARS. That freaks me out.

2. I've noticed that if I cross my legs for too long..my leg falls asleep. If I sit on my legs weird...I limp when I'm getting up. That will make any person in their twenties feel ancient.

3. HEART BURN. I had a friend tell me a few months ago that she was experiencing heart burn. I thought that was weird. Now I have heart burn too. I guess it's a part of being 26.

4. I remember my sisters at the age of 26. When I was observing them...I was glad I till had 7 years or ect to go before I turned the big 26. Now I'm that age. For some reason...it kind of creeps me out that 7 years have passed that fast.

5. I must say that although I feel old at my young age...I absolutely love life now! 26 is awesome. The following numbers on my list will be about why I love 26.

6. There's something about 26 because I married my amazing husband at this age. I've never been so happy at any other age.

7. I can now say that I truly only have one year left of school.

8. I became an official homeowner at the age of 26. No more cramped apartments for me! (thanks to my sugar daddy of course :)

9. 26 feels WONDERFUL...even if I do get an occasional bout of heartburn, and my legs cramp up when I sit in weird positions. I can truly say I love being the age of 26.

How do you feel about your age?

RUDENESS!!!

Last week, a few people said some things to me that I considered to be very rude. Here they are. Maybe you can all commiserate with me.

1. A guy in my class asked me for the SECOND time if I was pregnant. SOOOO RUDE. I told him yes. Next time he asks I'm going to say something to make him wonder. (BTW..I'm NOT pregnant). I thought it was a rule of thumb NOT to ask someone if they are with child. That's always a question you should wonder about quietly or get the information from friends. SHEESH...I'm not even fat.

2. Another guy in my class asked me when I was married. I told him that the ceremony was in August. He replied,"Wow...and you are already wearing sweatpants." I have no idea what that comment was supposed to mean? Is he saying that I am letting myself go? I told him that I wore sweat pants BEFORE I was married. I think that stylish sweat pants can be cute. Men. They make me mad.

Well..that's all the rude comments I endured this week...but I'm sure I will have more stories in the future. Did anyone say something rude to you lately?

I Have A Dream

I actually have many dreams...here they are.

1. One day I hope to quadruple my blog hits per day. I know it's a silly dream and it won't really get me anywhere. Nonetheless it's a dream.

2. I once had a dream where I gave birth to 7 piglets. I remember feeling very ashamed in the dream when I didn't think my babies were beautiful.

3. I have a dream of visiting 100 different countries. So far I've been to 8.

4. I used to have a weekly dream about spiders. Yikes...I hate creepy crawlies.

5. I have a dream of getting an A in 301...we'll see how that goes!

6. I also dream of becoming a hair model. This is a newly acquired dream. My hairdresser mentioned it the last time I was at the salon. He took my number and I've been waiting for a call ever since. How cool would it be to get your hair done by a really good professional for free! It would be a DREAM come true.

I have many dreams...tell me what you think about mine...or mention some of yours!

Blogs About Things Besides Mothering

I feel that there are a plethora of mothering blogs. There are some baby/mamma blogs that I thoroughly enjoy reading. For example, I love reading mammatalk. The author of this blog is candid and frequently cracks me up. I also enjoy reading Holly Tried It. Her blog is insightful and interesting. Yet, for the most part...I'm really not into mamma blogs. I'm not a mom! I feel like I'm the only person who does not blog about family or children. Therefore, I'm starting a list of blogs that are not about children or husbands. Here goes....

1. The Diary of a Fatty. I was interested in this one because of the title. It still has me intrigued.

2. Becoming Minimalist. This topic caught my attention when I was moving and packing up a billion items. I found this blog and now I'm all about getting rid of possessions I do not need.

3. Blog Around the World.Want to connect with bloggers from different parts of the world? Here's the place to do it.

This is what I've come up with so far! Suggest some more blogs for me!

Have You Ever Wondered...

Here are a few things I've wondered about in my life

1) Why does asparagus make your urine smell?

2) Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?

3) Why are curtain rods so expensive?

4) Why do men enjoy football so much?

5) How is it that some people can have such incredibly horrible taste?

6) Why do people name their children, Vita Min, Cole Deggs, or Orangello?

Reasons To Camp with Your Honey

1. There's nothing to do but talk...so you'll definitely learn more about your beloved one.

2. If it's cold, there's no reason not to snuggle.

3. It gives you both a sense of adventure...even if you are only camping 5 feet away from your car!

4. The trip there gives you time to discuss the book you are both reading. (We are reading Love and Respect at a very slow rate...this gave us time to read more of it)>

5. You'll most likely share the cooking and dishes.

6. It will really make you appreciate your soft, bug free bed when you do arrive back home!.

Reasons To Try the New FIRM Wave

1. It eliminates monthly gym membership fees.

2. It works different muscles than the previous FIRM workout series.

3. It is fun!

4. It is a unique type of workout!

5. You don't have to be an elite athlete to use it....but I'm sure even the elite athlete would feel a difference after working out on it since it works different muscles.

B(LIST)fulness is Expanding!

I decided to start a blog that is specifically about one topic-Getting rid of things I don't need. I decided to name it minima(LIST). Check it out. I will be writing more on this blog soon! Don't give up on me yet!

Saving Money

How are you saving money during this time of "economic hardship?" Here's what my husband and I are doing.

1. Share a car. This can be fun. It can also be time consuming! I don't particularly enjoy sitting in a highschool parking lot waiting for my principal husband to finish his duties...but one car insurance bill is sure great! It also saves money on parking...I can't really pay to park a car that my husband has to drop me off in!

2. Use the dishwasher. My husband asked me the other day why I was using the dishwasher so much. I explained that it actually uses less water, soap and energy than I would if I doused everything in a sink full of soapy water. Plus it cleans WAY better. Don't believe me? Check out this article

3. Buy Scott toilet paper. The thousand sheet roll will never end...even though you'll want it to since it's not the softest toilet paper product out there. It's a lot better then newspaper or the corncobs people used in the days before toilet paper though.

4. Wear your underwear 5 days in a row. Just kidding!! I have heard this suggested though.

5. Take all of your showers at the gym...they can foot the waterbill...right? Okay, so I don't actually do this. I have heard of a guy who did this for a part of his summer.

6. Do you have any more ideas for me?

Ben & Jerry's Made Out of Breastmilk

I'm sure you've all heard that PETA wants Ben and Jerry's to make icecream out of breastmilk. I thought I would help them come up with some names for their new product. Unfortunately, I'm not clever with puns...but my husband sure is.

1. Double Delight
2. Banana Mammary
3. Oreola
4. Best Pump
5. Pheeding Time

You have your choice of single, double or nipple dip! Cup sizes run from AAA to DDD.

School Blues Blog

I've decided that I have the case of the school blues and my "having fun skills" is very effected by it.
Here is a list of symptoms that I have.
1.School is always on my mind.

2.I have dreams about it.

3.I have nightmares about it.

4.I daydream what life will be like when it is over.

5.I wonder why people tell me to enjoy life in school since it's so much better than
working a job.

6.I wonder if I can cram any more details into my brain.

Here is list of things that I think may be causing my school blues

1. I trip on my ugly nursing shoes. Since I already feel a little intimidated by all of the doctors and nurses at the hospital, my tripping action really makes me feel sheepish. Plus, wearing ugly shoes is awful. Tripping on ugly shoes is almost unbearable:)

2. I only have two scrub pant option. One of the pairs I own, are the cool flare kind. Unfortunately these have become progressively shorter every time I have washed them. Not so cool anymore. My other pair are very high waisted with a very roomy inseem. I look like I'm wearing a parachute on top with tight bunched ankle material at the bottom. Not pretty.

3. I see many procedures/diseases during the day. This is great, except most people get grossed out when I talk about it.

4. Homework seems to intefere with my blogging time. Seriously, who wouldn't get school blues from that?

whew...I'm tired.

I will be taking a short break from writing lists this week. Nursing school is crazy insane and I have to memorize two books. J/k...but pretty much.

More About Minimalism

I've always considered myself to be one of few possessions. I just figured out the reason I had few possessions is because I was storing it all at my parents house! Sheesh....Now I have to figure out how to go from a junkist to a sane minimalist. I do not want to be the person that debates whether toilet paper and spoons are something I REALLY need to survive. Therefore, I decided I would make gradual changes in my life and figure out what I really need.

1. I try to use only 3 squares of toilet paper instead of 7. I only do this because my husband commented on how much toilet paper I use. I guess I'm used to using the one-ply scratchy toilet paper that I grew up with.

2. I stomped on a roach not only once, but twice yesterday. (Of course I screamed the entire time I was stomping) I decided that the world needed to minimalize the number of scary creatures crawling around in it!

3. I've worked on cutting down on the number of diet cokes I consume. I don't really NEED Diet Coke. I just really like it. As most of you know...this has been a 5 year struggle for me!

4. We have about 60 blankets at our house. That would work well if we lived in MN...but we live in muggy VA. So I just threw one away yesterday. It had definitely seen better days.

5. My husband has has Mexican, Chines and everyday dishes. He also has two sets of picnic dishes (along with two picnic baskets) We now have the dishes we chose for our wedding! We have a lot of dishes. I'm trying to decide what to do with them all. I'm thinking we will have a garage sale in the spring.

6. I've also decided to minimalize my time on the internet.....I'll start right after I finish this blog!

Wow...That's Uncomfortable.

Have you ever been in a large group where someone all of a sudden offers information that causes you all to turn red? I've had a lot of those experiences in the past 6 months. Here goes...thankfully this list won't be that long...I don't know how many more of these situations I can live through.

1. Our nursing class was asked to think about the most painful experience we'd ever been through. Our instructor than asked if anyone would be willing to share their experience. Most people said stuff like "My C-Section...falling off my bike..ect." Then it happened. One of our "interesting" class mates raised his hand and told us all about the time he had a portion of his male organ removed! Wow, I'm turning red as I type this. I guess some people are just really open...or maybe they just don't have a filter. I'm not sure.

2. Our nursing instructor was TRYING to teach us to be open to different cultures. She then proceeded to tell us that when you have a black patient they will always want to eat "fried chicken." She than asked an Asian person what they ate every day. The student said "what do you mean?" The nursing instructor said "You eat rice, right?" Another person in the class made the situation worse by raising his hand and saying "I thought oriental people ate rice and seafood too." I just wonder when these people are going to learn that you only refer to rugs as oriental and that those cultures eat a variety of foods!

3. One of the pregnant nursing students raised her hand during our contraception lecture. She then stated that she was on a certain type of birth control and "now she was pregnant." First of all..I did not want to know what type of birth control my classmates were one But to make things worse, another student raised their hand and stated that "people above certain weights could not use that type of birth control." It was very apparent that this student was definitely not under the weight requirement! Whewww...calling someone fat in front of the whole class is not nice!

Oops a Daisy....Huh?

Have you ever wondered what some of the phrases you use actually mean? I do.
Here is a list of phrases that sometimes befuddle me.

1. Get on my soapbox. I know what this means..but why do we say that we are getting on our soapbox? I think my weight would crush that small piece of cardboard.

2. Oops-a-Daisy. Hmm...did people who used to pick weeds accidently yell this when they pulled out a daisy instead of a dandelion?

3. Take a gander. Hmm..I love this phrase. I use it all of the time. That's how cheesy I am...I have no idea why I would take a goose anywhere...

4. I'll be the guinea pig? What? Don't they only do scientific experiments on mice?

5. As easy as pie. I know that pie is definitely not easy to make. It takes hours...and talent.

6. Chip on your shoulder.

7. Point blank

8. Let the cat out of the bag. Why was it there in the first place?

Luckily, you can all figure out where these phrases originated from by clicking here

Wal-Mart...It Makes Me Want to TEAR Out My Hair.

Today I finished studying for my test early, so Joel and I decided to go to Wal-Mart and spend our wedding gift cards. I was very glad when we finally left. Wal-Mart does have some great products...but the customer service is something else. Therefore, Wal-Mart makes me want to tear out my hair because

1. There never seem to be enough cash registers open.

2. The lines at the cash registers move extremely slow.

3. The cashiers running the cash registers use their blinking lights a lot.

4. There are screaming kids EVERYWHERE.

5. Sometimes there is different music coming out of different speaker systems.

6. People in the parking lot don't care if you are trying to park....they'll just amble slowly by as you wait with your blinker on for ten minutes.

7. Did you find something you like? It's probably out of stock or way down the aisle hidden underneath a pile of merchandise.

8. It's definitely the cheapest place to shop and this makes me want to tear out my hair because it means I HAVE to go there. Good thing my husband does the grocery shopping.

9. Need a coat rack? Don't ask the workers where to find one...they probably don't know what it is.

*I am writing this about Wal-Marts in the VA area. The ones back home were run so much better...*sigh*

There's Just Something About.....Holly!

There's just something about Holly because

1. She researches EVERYTHING! Visit her blog and you'll know what I mean.

2. She peaked my interests in blogs.

3. She has a witty sense of humor.

4. She watches girly movies with me.

5. She's an amazing mother.

6. She's an amazing sister!

7. She's chalk full of ideas.

8. She's fun to hang out with.

9. Because of her, I am now married to the most wonderful man ever!

10.She makes great oven pancakes.

A List of Facts I Like to Ignore....

Here are a list of facts that I have come across as a student. I like to ignore these facts...they just seem to make life so difficult.

1. Count how many people are living in your house. Now count how many animals also share your home. Add the two together. That's how many times you are supposed to vacuum a week. Sheesh...glad I only live with one other person.

2. You are supposed to microwave your sponge for 1 minute before you use it (Make sure it's wet when you microwave it). I'll admit that I don't ignore this one. I just can't. I have an intense fear of getting an upset stomach and if I have to microwave my sponges to avoid any kind of food poisoning..I'll definitely do that. I do only microwave my sponge for 30 seconds when I'm feeling rebellious.

3. You are supposed to sleep with your door closed in case of a fire. I've recently had to make a compromise related to this rule. I have always been a firm believer of sleeping with the door closed. Visions of awakening to a smoke filled room weren't ways that I liked to lull my mind to sleep in the past. My husband likes the air to circulate through the entire house though....so,let's just hope our house never starts on fire.

4. You're only supposed to drink 1 can of diet soda/day at the MOST. Yeah...I don't follow this rule.

5. You should never stay up late studying the night before a test. I'm not a procrastinator, but sometimes I just feel better if I stay up late studying. I know...I know..it's counterproductive.

You Might Not Have a Sense of Direction if.....

I am notorious for having no sense of direction. Therefore, I thought I'd blog about it. Therefore, you might not have a sense of direction if

1. You get lost.

2. You get lost while using a GPS.

3. You end up in WI twice while trying to get to Minneapolis from St. Paul.

4. You nod like you know what people are talking about when they give you directions and then just go look up the address on mapquest.

5. You are in big trouble if people give you directions and you can't then look them up on mapquest.

6. You end up in northern MI when trying to drive to Minneapolis from WI.

7. You have no clue if your house is north, south, east or west of the freeway...rather that it is by the big tree with the metal fence near it.

8. You have to drive the route three times before you feel comfortable driving there without a list of directions.

There's Just Something About MATT....because...

In honor of all of Matt's witty comments..I decided to write a blog about him.

There's just something about Matt because

1. He likes to sign wedding guestbooks with fake names. Joel and I were trying to figure out who Tom Jones was for FOREVER.

2. He makes fun of the fact that I'm trying to sell my iPod on facebook...

3. He convinced me to make gift bags for all of my wedding guests staying in hotels.

4. He's one of my husbands best friends.

5. He likes to ride sub-par roller coasters.

6. He looks for cheap prescription medications in Canada.

7. He's finding a cure for cancer. That's pretty amazing.

8. His suave phrases just say it all..."Any single women making the trip to MN? I'll meet you on the dance floor."

So, there you have it...if you have anything to add...please leave a comment.

Are You Annoying?

Since I've been married, I've discovered that I have some annoying habits. I don't know if you could call me an annoying person overall...but I definitely have some quirks that could be described as slightly irritating. This is a list of things people have done that have bothered me as well as a few things I've done that could be considered less than pleasant. Therefore, you might be annoying if

1. You eat all of the M&M's out of the trail mix bag...and leave all of the nuts for someone else to enjoy! (Shh..my husband hasn't figured out that I did this yet!)

2. You see a bug and you don't kill it.

3. You never stop talking.

4. You make smacking noises in your sleep. (No...this is not me or Joel!!)

5. You ask your host if there is something else in their cupboards that you could eat....even though a full meal has already been prepared for you.

6. You continually ring someones doorbell.

7. You use the last piece of toilet paper and do not refill.

8. You sing very loudly in the morning. (I LOVE the person who does this...you know who you are!)

9. You continually ask someone what size jeans they wear.

There's Just Something About.....BETHANY!!!

I decided that Bethany deserved a write up this week, because she did so much at my wedding...but received ZERO recognition for all of her work. So here goes. There's just something about...Bethany because:

1. She has a laugh that will bring you to tears. I don't think there is anyone in the world who's laugh can make me laugh that hard.

2. She's been known to not let people step on her bathroom rugs when washing their hands or brushing their teeth :)

3. She brings a new definition to the word sunburn.

4. Holy Moly...watch out for her dance moves! Especially if there's a pole nearby ;0

5. She's got a great sense of humor.

6. She's got an amazing lake behind her house. I'm so jealous!

7. Any girl with 3 sisters is definitely one that is dear to my heart.

8. She reads my blog...and likes it!

9. She's an amazing person.

10. She's a great friend! (if only she lived a little closer!)

How to Become FAMOUS.

At my wedding I had sooo many people come up to me and say. "I feel like I got to know you through your blog." It was kind of crazy. So here is my list on how to become famous.

1. Start a Blog.
2. Post your Blog entries on facebook.
3. Post your Blog on your wedding website (or another equivalent website)
4. Write on your Blog every day.
5. Write on a million other people's blogs.

Follow my instructions and people will be telling you how they got to know you through your blog in no time! Don't blame me if you become infamous through your blog though...Unfortunately, I'm not famous for being as intelligent as Einstein...I just happen to write lists.

The Comprehensive List of Airport Needs.

1. I believe that airports NEED lazyboy chairs. I was so sick the last time I was in an airport and they decided to delay my flight for 4 hours. I would have paid for a comfortable chair.

2. Hand held heaters. SHEESH....they make airports sooo cold in the summer. Layers just aren't enough to keep you warm.

3. Movie theaters. It's exactly what you need to fill your time while you are waiting for your connecting flight.

4. A gym. Why not work off all of those holiday calories while waiting for that next flight?

5. A better system. I feel like something always happens to my flights. I've sat on a runway for 6 hours before. This just should not happen.

6. Free internet access. Every other business has free internet...why do you have to pay $10 to check your e-mail at the airport?


What do you think airports need?

You Know You've Gained Weight When....

So, the reason I am posting this blog is because my husband and I just got back from our honeymoon. We went to a resort that had huge buffets for every meal. There was no way I couldn't gain weight. I therefore thought this post was appropriate.

You know you've gained weight when...

1. Elastic has become your new best friend.
vorite pair of jeans make you worry that you have become a "muffin top"

3. You are afraid to step on the scale...living in ignorance is so much better!

4. You know there is no way you are the same skinny weight you were on your last license...so you up your skinny weight a few pounds and hope you're not lying too much.

5. People ask you if you are pregnant.

6. Cankle Queen is your new nickname.

I LOVE Being Married!

I love being married because:

1. My husband cooks me breakfast and supper. He also makes my lunches. I am so spoiled.

2. I now have someone who can tell me all the crazy things I do when I sleep. This morning I ordered a "Chai Tea Latte" and the other day I continually poked my husband in the side to get his attention while I was still sleeping. CRAZY.

3. I no longer have to use mapquest....my husband IS mapquest.

4. I now have a very dedicated workout partner. No more slackin' for me!

5. I always have someone to talk to!

6. No more setting up printers or changing the oil for me!!!

7. There are sooo many reasons I love being married...these are just a few highlights!

Did You Really Just Ask That?

Today, was an interesting day. Here are few of the questions that were asked of me.

1. "You're from MN?!? What state is that [in]?" -Apparently, people down south don't know that MN is a state and not a city. J/k....just this one person I guess.

2. "I'm taking calculus three in the fall...does calculus have formulas in it?"-I'm thinking that maybe he skipped calc 1 and 2.

3. "Was coach filmed in MN?"-I don't even know the answer to this one.

4. "You're married? Do you cook?" You just look so young to be married!

5. "Are you pregnant?"

Back to the Nitty Gritty

So, I'm now a wife on top of being a student nurse AND a blogger. How am I ever going to keep up with everything I have to do? J/k...Marriage has brought on new responsibilities. Here's my back to the nitty gritty list.

1. I now have to iron shirts. My mom always made this look so easy. I spent 40 minutes on one of Joel's shirts the other day..and it still didn't look that great.
Grrr...I guess I have a lot to learn.

2. It's my job to do all the dishes. Fortunately, I get to load the dishwasher any way I want! (See www.hollytriedit.blogspot.com)

3. Thankfully, I do not have to cook!!! I have the best husband in the world who has agreed to do all of the cooking. My mom spent years trying to get me to like to cook and sew. Don't lose heart, mom! I did win the crocheting contest at Kansas City!

4. I have to write blogs that don't sound too wifey!! I guess this blog is not going to cut it....I figured one wifey blog would be alright though

I'm Back....

So, It's been a while since I've written. That's because a lot has happened since the last time I wrote...

1. I got married!!! Check out the pictures under my favorite blogs under lingfoto.

2. I went to Mexico! (I'll post some photos soon)

3. I became very sick in Mexico. (I won't post any photos of this)

I hope to be back to my normal blogging self very soon!

Would You Rather?

It's been awhile since I've posted would you rather questions. I felt like it was time to add a few more to my blog.

1. Would you rather have a voice that sounded like Minnie Mouse's or be forced to wear Mickey's shoes every day of your life?

2. Would you rather star on the show "Wipeout" or "Wheel of Fortune?"

3. Would you rather sleep for 7 days straight or be awake for an entire week.

4. Would you rather write a paper or take a test?

5. Would you rather eat green eggs or green ham?

6. Would you rather have 3 sets of triplets or 10 children born in 10 different years?

7. Would you rather live with no electricity or no car?

8. Would you rather be bald with no eyebrows or as hairy as an ape?

9. Would you rather

There Really Is a Blog About Everything

Tonight I was looking for some new blogs to read. I decided to google "dating blogs." Here's what I found within seconds.

1. Horse Dating Scene Blog. Apparently this is a blog where horse lovers can meet and eventually date. Hmm....if I were a horse lover, I'm sure the first place I would look to find another horse lover would be on a blog.

2. Jewish Dating Blog

3. Interracial Dating Blog

4. Millionaire Dating Blog. This one actually intrigued me. The author was looking for a place where gorgeous, rich people could meet. Seriously, people are so delusional. Why would a gorgeous millionaire need to look for a blog to find someone to date?

5. Christian Dating Blog. Is this a cheap alternative to E-harmony?

Life's Lessons

What are some pearls of wisdom you've gathered through the years that you wish everyone had also picked up along the road of life? Here are mine.

1. At a young age I learned that in order to be a good conversationalist, one should listen as much as they talk. They should also ask the fellow conversationalist questions regarding their interests, rather than dominating the chit-chat with their own stories and thoughts.

2. I was a very shy, young girl. My dad told me at a young age that conversation is like playing catch. If someone throws a question at you, in order for the game to continue, you need to answer the question and throw a different question back at the person your playing with. In other words, don't just answer people's questions with "yes" and "no" and then fail to ask them a question in return.

3. Family and friends really do know what they are talking about when it comes to your boyfriend.

4. Balancing your checkbook really is important. Good thing I'm getting married to someone who does that. I avoid writing checks like the plague, because I hate balancing my checkbook.

5. Listen to your mom when she tells you that someday you will wish you had learned to be organized at a young age.

6. Bad dates lead to good stories. Tell yourself this when you are living through a horrible date. People enjoy hearing about funny dating woes.

7. It's not okay to honk at girls walking down the street. I would think that most guy past the age of 16 would know this, but even grown men have not picked up this bit of wisdom along their road of life.

8. It's not okay to ask people who invited you to their house and provided a meal for you if there is something else to eat. I've never done this, but I've had guests digging through my cupboards.

9. If you want something that is rather spendy, check e-bay before you buy it. You'll probably find a better deal.

10. Listen to the way people laugh. This brings great joy to me. People's laughs can make you laugh, even if nothing funny was said.

Nail Biting Nervous

What makes you nail biting nervous? These are the circumstances that have made me very anxious in the past.

1. I was very nervous and could not sleep when I found out the restaraunt I was supposed to have my wedding reception at closed three weeks before the big day.

2. I'm sure that all of my friends can testify that if nail biting were a habit of mine...I wouldn't have any left the night before a test.

3. Driving in rain makes me very nervous. I would almost rather drive in snow.

4. Giving speeches makes me want to crawl in a hole.

5. Silence in groups of people makes me nervous...unless it's family.

6. Silence on the phone when you are talking to someone you have only been dating for a short period of time causes uneasy feelings to arise inside my stomach...Luckily, I'll never have to deal with this again.

7. Meeting future in-laws was a little nerve wrecking at first!! Good thing they turned out to be nice people.

8. Feeling sick to my stomach in the middle of class...that makes me extremely nervous.

9. Sleeping through my alarm clock makes me as nervous as a mad woman (only when I'm running late of course)

There's Just Something about....Joel!

I decided that it's time. I've steered away from writing a blog about my future husband because I didn't want to sound like a love sick fiancee' People are asking me lots of questions about him though, and therefore the time has come.

There's Just Something about Joel because:

1. He makes duck lips when he's studying or thinking really hard. He claims that this is an inherited trait. I don't know...I never see his parents making duck lips?

2. He was forced to do the Mexican hat dance with my mother and he still asked me to marry him. That definitely screams quality.

3. He shares my love of travel and even took me to New York City to visit some friends for Christmas.

4. He is really intelligent. He has proof read my papers and helped me with my Logic homework in an airport.

5. Even though it took him a while, he came up with the best first dance song for our wedding. It made me cry the first time I listened to it.

6. He stores Diet Coke with Lime in his fridge for me.

7. He's perceptive.

8. He's going to be a great principal at the high school he works at.

9. He has a huge capacity for forgiveness.

10. He's going to be a great husband!

Good Ones, but Sad Ones.

I've decided that it is time to post a list on movies. Today, I'm going to list movies that are great, but will most likely cause you to reach for the kleenex box a few times. Here they are...movies that I love, but have also made me cry.

1. We Are Marshall.
2. P.S. I Love You
3. Remember the Titans
4. My Girl
5. Bridge to Terabithia (holy moly....I bawled like a baby while watching this one)
6. Steele Magnolias
7. The Bucket List
8. The Family Stone


What movies have made you cry lately?

Airplane Woes

Are your airplane woes worse than mine?

1. The day after I was dumped by my boyfriend, I was stuck on an airplane next to a crazy lady for about 4 hours. I then missed my connecting flight, lost my luggage and had to stay in a hotel. I then dropped my necklace in the toilet and used soap that burned the skin on my face. I also fell off of a bus which left a nasty bruise for weeks to come.

2. I was stuck on the Atlanta runway for 6 hours with no food.

3. I've been stuck on runways because the airplane ran out of water.

4. My luggage was lost on my trip to Europe..luckily it was retrieved later.

5. I went through a streak where my luggage and I were always searched. Crying college students must seem suspicious?

So That's What That Means?!

This is a blog about words and phrases that I have messed up as a child and as an adult. We've all done it...I just happen to be advertising my naivete (or deafness in some cases) on my blog.

1. The other day I was talking to my fiancee' and I said "A.K.A.-AS known as." He laughed at me...apparently, I've lived 26 years without knowing that A.K.A. really stands for "also known as."

2. I used to love the song Wonderwall by Oasis. Especially, when the band sang "Anna Ferah, You're my wonderwall." I think I was about 22 before I figured out that they were really saying "and after all, you're my wonderwall."

3. When I was a child, my dad was going on a business trip to CA. I wanted to go with him and begged him to take me along. He replied "There's going to be lots of vendors for adults there. I don't know if they allow children at those conventions." I said, "Well, dad, you can go on the floors with the adult vending machines and I'll stay in the hotel." He thought that was pretty funny.

4. My friend's husband happened to be explaining car parts to his wife and I one day. I was really confused and asked "What does the torkenburger do?" They both said "The what?" I replied, "You know...the torkenburger...I don't get it." They immediately started laughing at me and explained that it was called a torque converter.

Ways to Feel Safe After Spying a Cockroach in Your Home (What Works and What Doesn't).

What doesn't work:
1. Run to the other room and scream. (this is the first technique that I chose to use)
2. Call your significant other and tell them that they need to call the exterminator immediately.
3. Leave the house for couple hours and hope that they magically disappear.
4. Blame the south for your anguish because it has so many wretchedly huge bugs.

What does work:
1. Buy roach killer and fervently spray your entire house inside and out.
2. Carry the roach killer with you everywhere.
3. Put the roach killer spray next to your bed while your sleeping. (Yes, I actually did that)
4. Don't listen to your fiancee' when he tells you the roach killer won't work.
5. Pretend that roaches do not exist.

Can We Go Back to the 1800's?

Have you ever wondered why some things are in style right now, where as a few hundred years ago the complete opposite was the latest trend? Here is a list of things I wish would be cool again.

1. White, PALE, skin. I've been tanning for my wedding. Nobody can even tell. Yet, I still tan away so I don't have that dreaded pale look in all of my pictures.

2. Chubbiness. Again, life would be so much easier if it were considered beautiful to be chubby.

3. Bonnets. Okay, I'm kidding on this one. I am so glad I do NOT have to wear a bonnet.

Here are a list of styles that I am glad we do not incorporate in this day and age.

1. Men wearing tight, tight pants or skirts.

2. Bonnets.

3. Girdles.

Zubaz

Apparently no one in the South knows what Zubaz are. I'm here to explain zubaz to all those unfortunate enough to live life without the knowledge of this horrible fad.

According to Wikipedia,
1. Zubaz were a popular type of weightlifting pant worn in the early 90's.

2. The were popular for many reasons. Maybe because they came with an elastic waist band that allowed for greater "flexibility and movement" AND crazy colored zebra prints. (This pattern must have allowed you to look cool despite the fact you were wearing elastic banded pants?)

3. The pants were an "in your face type of clothing."

4. The Arena football league had Zubaz design some of their uniform pants.

5. Zubaz was a MN based company that sold "$100 million dollars in 1991 alone."

Now, for the real questions about Zubaz:

1. Why would anyone want to wear them? The answer to this is elusive to me.

2. Why are people STILL wearing them? Again, I have no answer for this question.

3. Where do people still get Zubaz? I do have an answer for this one! Visit

http://www.zubaz.com

4. How do we get people to STOP wearing Zubaz? If you have the answer to this question, please post it!

I Need the Perfect....

So here is a list of items that I want to be perfected in my life. So here goes...maybe you can give me some suggestions.

I Need the Perfect:

1. Hair Tie. I feel like they don't make hair ties like they used to. I've tried the Goody StayPut Hair tyes...but I don't like the rubbery feeling. I like the feel of regular stretchy ones, but they seem to be stretched to their max after only wearing them once.

2. Mascara. I want mascara that makes my lashes look longer with NO clumps. I also need it to be waterproof. I feel like my mascara always ends up in a dark ring under my eyes by the end of the day. Not pretty.

3. Blow dryer. I like my hair dryers to dry my hair lickety-split. I would also like it if they made hairdryers with a cool option that actually worked.

4. Pair of jeans. The kind that don't stretch out after wearing them once, but don't look as though they are painted on either.

5. Shampoo and Conditioner. I've tried everything...I don't feel like my hair looks as healthy as it did when I was a teen. Does that just mean I'm getting old?

6. Pair of scrubs. I'm required to wear white scrubs for school. I have one pair that have flared legs, but if I wear them at the right place on my hips, they turn into instant floods. Not pretty.

I Think I Should Become a Minimalist Because...

I think I should become a minimalist because..

1. I am moving....I always feel like I have too much junk when I'm moving. Treasures all of sudden turn to annoyances and I therefore think about the life of the minimalist.

2. I can be a messy slob. Maybe if I threw something away everyday, I would not have the messy slob problem.

3. I spend too much money on this stuff that causes me to become a messy slob.

4. I can't figure out how to organize the stuff I have...so why should I continue buying stuff I can't organize? Hence, the need for me to become a minimalist.

5. If I give away all the stuff I hardly use...I may make someone else happy AND I'll probably be happier in the end because I won't have to figure out how to organize it.

Can you think of more reasons to become a minimalist? Or maybe you can think of more ways for me to become one.....I'm going to start by throwing out something I hardly ever use at least once a week. Any more suggestions?

P.S...This does not mean I will not like my wedding presents as my witty cousin pointed out. I am mostly talking about the unworn clothes that have been hanging in my closet for two years, or the art projects I made in my papermaking class 3 years ago. Do I really need to be toting those things around for the rest of my life?

Why Didn't I Think of That?

Lately, I've had a lot of "Why didn't I think of that moments?" Here they are...surely you can commiserate with some.

1. I happen to have a lot of "Why didn't I think of that" moments when I'm going over a test with classmates....I hate that.

2. I'm sure you've all heard of the woman who was willing to give away a spot as a bridesmaid in her wedding to the highest bidder! Dr. Pepper gave her 10,000 dollars for her wedding and provided the refreshments. She also was able to get around 5,000 dollars from someone who wanted to be in her wedding. Gosh...why didn't I think of that?!?

3. My sister was telling me about this 15 year old who came up with creative "skins" for blog backgrounds and ect. Of course she's making a ton of money.

4. A lot of times when I'm surfing around on the Internet, I come across some great blogs. It gives me a case of blogger envy and I always wonder why I didn't think of their blog first!

5. I also wonder why I didn't think of becoming a nurse...when I was a FRESHMAN in college...rather than a 26 year old OUT of college...ooooh well.

Facebook is CLEARLY better than MySpace

I thought that since I already vented about Facebook, I should bring up MySpace also. I really do think that Facebook is better than MySpace and here are the reasons...

1. Facebook was started as a college networking device whereas MySpace was not. Therefore, on Facebook there are not as many creepy people checking out your page.

2. I only received a few date offers on Facebook and about 50 on MySpace from both guys and girls. I guess that could be considered a plus for some people, but not for me. I'm not the kind of girl who dates guys from the internet. Ha...except when my parents sign me up for E-harmony...I fall in love and decide to marry a guy from the internet...shhh..don't tell anyone..I vowed I would never do that!

3. MySpace seems like it is always having technical difficulties....

4. There aren't as many marketing ploys on Facebook.

5. Facebook is more organized and it is easier to find friends you know.

6. Aspiring porn stars don't ask to be your friend on Facebook...hence why I closed my MySpace account.

There's Just Something about...GRAHAM!

There's just something about Graham because...

1. He's excited to wear a tux in my wedding. He's going to be the best ringbearer ever!

2. He was calling birds by their scientific names by the time he was four!

3. He writes sweet notes on mirrors!!

4. He finds creative ways to pick up people that are 5 times as big as he is!

5. He lets me know when he "feels better" in the middle of a play. (that's an inside joke!)

6. He makes me laugh.

What a great nephew...I have great neices as well...and I'm sure they'll make it on my weekly posting soon! :)

Things About Facebook Applications that DRIVE ME CRAZY!

1. Facebook applications seem to always have contingencies, such as making you send an invitation to all of your friends.

2. Facebook applications sometimes automatically send out notices to people without you even realizing it. For example...I think I've sent notices to my "pseudo friends" about how I ranked them on facebook?!? What?!? Ranking...seriously? (okay, I admit it...I did want to see how I compared to my friends on facebook and I fell into the trap of ranking...I vow I won't do it again!)

3. There is a facebook application for absolutely everything! I don't want to be a knight, zombie or send cupcakes.

4. There are a billion walls to write on...the funwall, the superwall ect. What's wrong with the original wall?

5. In order to see what someone wrote to you on the funwall or superwall application, you have to add the application. I'm always a sucker for adding this, because my curiousity always gets the best of me...then after I go through all the work of adding the application, I find that it was a generic post to everyone on facebook.

Don't get me wrong, I'm an avid facebooker. I just don't some aspects of a lot of the applications.

Reasons I Have Not Been Blogging

1. I have been spending a ridiculous amount of time studying.
2. I'm planning a wedding...okay..well I'm helping my mom plan my wedding.
3. I have too many tests in nursing school.
4. I have too much homework in nursing school.
5. I'm in nursing school ALL day long.

So...the main reason I have not been blogging is because of NURSING school.....but I have a break soon. HALLELUJAH!!! I will then be back to my normal blogging self.

Little Sisters Really Do Listen

I realized the other night that I'm still the little sister that practically believes everything my older sister says. Here is some evidence to the fact that I have always thought their (I have 3 sisters) words were golden.


1.Holly and I were watching t.v. and I was quite skeptical about the Neutrogena Wave product. Holly said "I bet it does help a little." Guess who bought the Wave at the store the next day...that would be me.

2.One of my sisters (I'll let them remain anonymous) told me when I was in 7th grade that I had a very small chest because I wore my sports bra to bed. I quit wearing my sports bra (during the evening hours of course). Way to freak out the poor girl enduring puberty anonymous sister!

3. One of my sisters convinced me that I should go into the medical field. Good advice Paige!

4. Holly once told me that my hair was made of daddy-long legs. I have an intense fear of spiders. I felt like my head was crawling for at least 20 minutes.

That's four reasons to be careful what you tell your younger sister...even if they are now 26!

How NICE are YOU?

Lately, I've come across some situations that have really tempted the not so nice girl in me to come out. Of course I resisted the temptations to be mean in person, but decided to make a quiz about it on my blog.

1. There's a girl that sits in front of you in class who talks the entire time. Not only does she talk, but she also wears a blue tooth that catches radio waves. Therefore, there is a remote sound of a radio voice in the background of your teacher lecturing. What would you do?

a. Politely ask the girl to stop talking and turn of her bluetooth.

b. Get your whole row to stare at her until she notices that everyone is annoyed with her behavior.

c. Rip the bluetooth out of her ear and stomp on it.

2. You are at the gym working out when a guy stops and stares at you becuase he wants the piece of equipment you are using. What do you do?

a. Take as long as possible. If he has the audacity to be that rude...he's going to have to wait for that piece of equipment.

b. Tell him there's another piece of equipment he can use on the other side of the gym.

c. Quietly finish your reps and wipe off the machine when you are done.

3. You are quietly standing in line at the school bookstore at the beginning of the semester. Someone just decides to cut in front of you because they apparently just "feel like it." Do you...

a. Push them out of line and tell them to get in their place.

b. Loudly shout so everyone can hear "Excuse me...you budded."

c. Let them have the spot, they must have been in a hurry if they were rude enough to budge in line.

I Don't Know Why I Blog...I JUST Do.

My fiance and I were talking about my blog and he suggested that I write a blog about this topic. The title happened to be the exact phrase I said to him. So...of course he suggested I write a list about it.

I don't know why I blog...but here's a few reasons why I might.

1. I might blog because it's the only part of my life that I can truly organize in a unique way. Heck..who else can write their entire life in a list?

2. Maybe I blog because I have a secret hope that some big time blogger will say "hmmm...this b(LIST)fulness girl...she really does have something going for her. I'm going to make her a blogging star!" Then I can say "I didn't know why I blogged, but now I do." Of course I'll make a list about it.

3. I possibly blog because it provides an outlet from my nursing life. I don't have to write about anything nursing related if I don't want to.

4. It could be that I blog because I like to look up who's reading my blog on Google Analytics....I think that may be a major reason. My hope that someone from every state and continent will read my blog just might cause me to blog a lot.

5. Blogging may be something I do just because it's something I kind of enjoy. I don't know-I just blog just because it's something I do!

There's Just Something about Selmer!!! (DAD)

I figured the only person I should be featuring in my blog this weekend would be my dad, Selmer!
There's just something about dad because

1. He used to take me out for dinner every time I finished a piano book.

2. He taught me to not be afraid to try new things.

3. He brought a new definition to the phrase "hubba, hubba."

4. He wore smiley scrubs to work at a business office. Thank heavens he wasn't the only one!

5. He paid for e-harmony and was therefore instrumental in bringing Joel and I together! Way to convince me to date online dad! :)

6. He is very good at sharing root beer.

7. He taught me that cheese and jelly really do go together.

8. He drove my furniture across the country.

9. He helped me through my 6 years of undergraduate school....not many dads can say that!

10. He is named "Selmer?!?" Who couldn't love a guy named "Selmer"

You Know You Live in the South When.....

I live in VA. Most people don't really consider this state to be "the South" unless you grew up in a place like MN. According to us, ANY state south of the Mason Dixon line is "the south." Heck...if you have any sort of twang in your accent...you're DEFINITELY southern.

Here goes. You know you live in the south when....

1. Your fiance grew up playing "Yankees and Rebels"

2. The confederate flag is posted on every truck that you see on the highway.

3. The highway is filled with trucks.

4. The lady at the DMV asks you for a BEAL. When you respond that you don't know what a "BEAL" is...she looks at you like you're the stupidest person on the planet and says, "You don't know what a credit card beal is?" You then reply, "OH, you mean a BILL (emphasis on the I sound)."

5. You eat cheese and grits. Personally, I didn't know what this existed until I moved here.

6. GRITS stands for more than the little white gritty things you eat at meals. Apparently it also means "girls raised in the south." Whatever...I'm a proud GRIN. (Girl raised in the north)

Bugs...they TICK me off.

So, within the past year or so, I've had a lot of bug mishaps. I'm going to let you relive these horrific moments with me in the form of a list.

1. One night I was sleeping and woke up briefly to change my head position...and I heard a little scampering noise on my pillow. To my absolute horror...there was a big, brown, furry spider scampering where my head should have been peacefully resting.

2. A couple of months later, I woke up because my head was tickling...I reached up to scratch it and I flicked a palmetto bug off of my hair. EEEEWWWWWWW.

3. About a week and a half ago, I found a tick consuming my blood. This is the most disgusting to me....and it worries me cause I still have a bite there.

P.S. I don't live in a filthy house. I vacuum and dust weekly. I also do the dishes DAILY. Apparently these buggers somehow creep inside every once and a while. It must be the south.

To Become a Perfect Bride...

So I was thinking about all the things I need to do in order to be the "perfect" bride in 2 months....it's a long list...it's not going to happen.
Here goes...this is what I need to do.
1. Become ridiculously organized-my fiance must have majored in organization.

2. Drink more water...and less Diet Coke. As most of you know, I've been working on this one for years.

3. Go to the gym every day....I used to be so good at this one!

4. Make lots of best girlfriends in Virgina area very quickly.

5. Learn to cook.

6. Start to enjoy nursing school so I don't complain to my fiance about it!

7. Learn to hate shopping....or maybe I should say learn to hate spending money.

8. Give up my teddy bear. (I don't think I'll have a problem with this one)

9. Love my body just the way God made it

10.Read many books on marriage. 2 down and about a billion to go!

sheesh..I have a lot to do in 2 months.

There's Just Something about BRYAN!

So, I decided to choose the person of the week to be my brother-in-law Bryan...This is partly cause I have access to a crazy picture of him but mostly because of the list below.

There's Just Something about Bryan because...
1. He taught me how to properly load a dishwasher :)

2. He shows Weezer videos to his two year old daughter because it has the muppet characters in it :) That made me laugh yesterday.

3. He checks in on our neighbors dog because I told him it sounded like it was continually coughing up hairballs.

4. He plays volleyball like a pro.

5. He picked me up when my car broke down at the library...then he took me to the car shop too!

6. He makes some great dip.

7. He has let me stay in his house for over a year....Now that makes an AMAZING brother-in-law!

You Know You Went to a Legalistic/Fundamentalist High School if....

1. Everyone played on every sports team regardless of ability.

2. You could count your classmates on 2 hands.

3. The reproductive section in your health book was repeatedly skipped leaving you completely clueless. (This made me look like a total idiot in my anatomy lab at the University of MN--yep...I listened very carefully when the TA was explaining the external female reproductive system to the guys in the class...I didn't want them to know I had never learned much of what he was talking about.)

4. Either you dated everyone in your class or your first date wasn't until you left high school. (This wasn't the case for me...but I know it was for plenty of people who attended fundamentalist schools)

5. Everyone THOUGHT they knew everything about everyone else...

6. Jr/Sr (Prom) consisted of eating a large dinner-Definitely NO DANCING!

7. When you filled out college applications you needed two extra pages because you were able to say you were involved in so much (ex: you were able to write Class president, Salutatorian, captain of the volleyball and basketball team, yearbook editor, 1st place in piano competition)

8. You only knew 200 people in your town....which were the 200 that went to your school (K-8). (oh...you might know a few people from the church affiliated with the school also)

9. You thought that all public school kids were on drugs and having sex all of the time. (So..that's a bit of an exaggeration....but slightly true)

10. You can say that you still keep in touch with 50% of your graduating class....(that would be five people for me!)

How to Depress a Blogger

So, I'll admit it. I've had a bit of the case of "blogger blues." I know you are all wondering how an author of such a great site could ever come down with "blogger blues," but alas, I have a definite case of it. Here's what leads to blogger blues.

1. Fail to comment on blogs...no matter how insightful they are :)
2. Fail to reciprocate when a blogger adds your site to their link list.
3. Fail to give "kudos" to a post.
4. Fail to answer questions the blogger has asked of you.

Yep, I think that pretty much sums it up...Ha...I know all you bloggers out their know what I'm talking about!

Is It Legend or Fact?

Here's a few things I've been wondering about lately....

1. Is it true that your hair grows in darker and thicker after you shave it? I used to say it was legend...but my leg hair is definitely darker than it used to be.

2. Is it myth that people have really had tumors with teeth and hair growing out of them? That couldn't possibly be a fact could it?

3. Is it true that you can never make up lost hours of sleep? I feel like I'm pretty good at doing that...just give me a worry free afternoon and I'll make sure any sleep I've lost over the past few weeks is made up within a couple of hours.

4. I only wonder this b/c we're discussing it in nursing school...this is not where my mind usually wanders off too....Is circumcision really cleaner and healthier...or is it just a custom of our culture? (and Israel's too of course)

There's Just Something about KALEN!

I was asking my sister for ideas on lists of things that I should write about. Of course she thought I should write a list about Kalen. I think this will be one of the easiest lists I've written because she's so amazing. I've also decided to add a weekly "There's Just Something about _____" to my blog. So watch out...next weeks blog may be about YOU!

Kalen's List.
1. Kalen's smile will brighten ANYONE'S day.
2. Kalen knows more sign language than I do. (She's only 2)
3. Kalen has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen!
4. She says "I hold you!" when she wants a hug....I think that's about the cutest thing ever!
5. Kalen LOVES church...which is something I wasn't excited about at her age.
6. She's funny...when i was watching her the other day I was throwing her up in the air and twirling her around. I was tired and dizzy so I told her I was too tired to try again. She said "okay" then two seconds later she patted my leg and said "AWAKE!" Of course I couldn't say no to her.
7. She's so outgoing. She says hi to all of the neighbors and is always excited when "Uncle Joel" comes over.
8. I think she may be a child prodigy someday :)
9. She's the cutest and I love living with her!

26.2 Reasons to Run a Marathon

1. You gain a sense of accomplishment.
2. You make new friends.
3. You get to buy new shoes every three months.
4. You get in shape.
5. You are able to see a lot of new scenery when you are training.
6. It's a source of conversation.
7. You get a medal!
8. It teaches you discipline.
9. No more flabby legs!
10. You get a tan.
11. People cheer you on like your a star when you're running it!
12. You win a free t-shirt. (after you pay all of the fees of course)
13. You're able to do a lot of people watching while you run all of those miles. (I saw someone run it in jeans?!? What were they thinking? I can't even imagine the chaffing.)
14. You can make it a mini-vacation. (I ran the Chicago marathon when I lived in Minneapolis)
15. People think you are a beast! (in a good sense of the word)
16. You get to eat more when you are training!
17. It impresses people on your first date. (Joel..I know you were sooo impressed when I told you I had run one)
18. It makes you feel like your an athlete even when you aren't able to participate in college sports.
19. It gives you time to mull over your entire life...at least 3 times!
20. It makes 1/2 marathons look wussy.
21. Carbohydrates...mmm...lots of them.
22. You truly have a RIGHT to drink gatorade if you run 26.2 miles....it's not wasted calories anymore!
23. It's a way to fizzle out any anger issues you've ever had...you'll be so tired at the end...you won't care WHAT your significant other said to you before the race!
24. You are able to witness amazing people run. (ex:I saw people who had lost 200 lbs through training and other people who beat cancer.)
25. You'll have an amazing set of lungs when your finished training.
26. Getting up at 6 will seem late to you (I used to train at 4:30a.m. to beat the summer heat)
.2 It's just an AMAZING experience.

Devastations Related to Hairdressers.

1. One time one of my hairdressers asked me if I'd like to try some red in my hair. I thought she meant a hint of red. So I said "yes" Two hours later and I looked like a fire engine. It was awful. Luckily she redid it the next week. I didn't want to go anywhere with that ugly do.

2. I recently wanted a bob like Jennifer Anniston had a few years ago. (See picture above). I said I did NOT want my hair to flip out. Did it flip out?!? Of COURSE. I ended up having an old woman hair cut...I'm still trying to grow it out. Plus my hairdresser told me she couldn't cut it too short because "I have such a strong jawline." I'm still upset about that. I want my bob...but I have to wait till after I get married!

So...I don't have a lot of hair stories...but I figured this is one area that women could really relate to...Tell me your bad-hair stories.

Wish List Books

I have a few books in mind that I really want to read. Unfortunately, with school, wedding planning and ect...I don't have the time to do it right now. These books are on my wish list. If you think there is something I should add, please tell me! I'd also like to know what books are on your wish list.

1. Peter Pan
2. My Sisters Keeper
3. The Vanishing Act of Esme
4. Such a Pretty Fat
5. Lord of the Flies

Dreams...

Today, I woke up and realized that I had been dreaming about blogging...I decided it was a sign that I needed a list about dreams.

1. Naked dreams...Have you ever dreamed that you are out in public somewhere and all of a sudden lose all of your clothes or a very essential piece of clothing?! I HATE those. They are so uncomfortable.

2. Spiders....I used to have nightmares about those at least once a week. Luckily, I haven't had any lately.

3. One of my most memorable dreams was when I gave birth to 8 piglets. Why? I have no idea. I tried to look it up on the intnet, but nothing seemed to explain as to why I would dream that.

4. My mom once dreamed that she had a little man in a bird cage and the house burned down and she was not able to save him. It still brings tears to her eyes when she recalls that dream. (I guess it was pretty vivid!)

5. I sometimes have dreams where my vision is blurry...it's like I have dirty contacts or something. Those give me a headache.

6. I often have dreams that I'm missing a final exam in one of my classes....those really freak me out!

Reasons NOT to Go to the Gym

I'll admit it. Lately I've been having a little problem with motivation. I have not felt like exercising at ALL. Me!! The ex-personal trainer who used to live in the gym. Here are the bogus reasons I've given myself for skipping the workouts. I hope you all comment and tell me how lazy I've been so that I will be more motivated!

1. No one can tell the difference in the way I look when I don't work out. (No lie...people have asked me if I've lost weight since I quit working out like a mad woman)
2. It's nice outside.
3. I have to study for nursing.
4. I don't want to.
5. I'm too busy.
6. I'll work out tomorrow.
7. I'm tired.

How lame is this list!! I need some motivation. You should all comment and give me some motivation!!

What IS IT about Britney Spears?!?

I remember the days when I used to want to BE Britney. Now I feel bad for her, but I'm still fascinated. I'm not one to read up on the celebrities...in fact I don't even know most of their names. Yet, I always seem to know what's going on with Britney. That's what led me to write this list...What is it about Britney?

1. She USED to be the most beautiful pop star.
2. Every teen girl used to want to be her and every teen guy wanted to date her.
3. She had everything and then threw it all away.
4. She had such a glamorous life and then she shaved her head and went crazy.
5. She married Kevin....(Is that what caused the downword spiral?)
6. She went shopping in her wedding dress?!? (maybe this is just a rumor)
7. She wore really short skirts with no underwear.
8. Maybe it's just the fact that people are obsessed with watching the high and mighty fall...sad to say...but I think that's "what is it about Britney Spears"

I really hope that someday things will be better for her again. She's had a hard life.

The Differences Between Men and Women.

I know this is an overdone topic. Yet, I still have to write about it....cause it's just something that is so applicable to my life at this point.

1. Girls LOVE hugs....boys just think they are okay.
2. Girls like to have conversation all of the time...apparently boys don't. (I thought I was a quiet person until I got into a serious relationship...I always like to have a good conversation going...ALL OF THE TIME!)
3. Boys take everything literally. If I tell my fiance' that he ALWAYS watches t.v. (this is just an example b/c he doesn't watch that much) he'll say that he only watches it for 2 hours a day and that's definitely not always.
4. I thought that only my dad liked to read the newspaper...apparently I was wrong.
5. Boys like stick shift.
6. That's all I can think of right now...I guess when I get married I'll be able to point out so much more. :0 If you care to enlighten me before I get married...it would be great if you added to the list.

My Hidden Talents

So we all have some hidden "talents" that not too many know about. Here are a few of mine. I'd be thrilled if you shared your secret talents on my blog.

1. I won a crocheting competition in a regional contest in highschool (I really shouldn't have...but there were only three contestants)

2. I can make my fingers pop on command repeatedly.

3. I can sleep through almost anything. (Really loud thunder storms, snoring...you name it)

4. I can eat cheese and jelly together and enjoy it.

5. I can sleep just about any time of the day. (I don't know if this is a talent...it is sure not helpful when I'm studying.)

Things I Think Need To Be Invented

After thinking about my life for a while...I've decided that there are a few things that aren't a reality yet. I think they should be. Here goes....

1. A pill that would help me stop drinking Diet Coke....Smokers get a patch..I think Diet Coke addicts could use something like that too!

2. A car that drives itself and was guaranteed to never get in an accident.

3. A hair dryer that actually used cold air to dry your hair in the summer. (I know these supposedly exist...but they don't work and my finger gets tired holding that blue button down) I hate feeling like I need to take a second shower after I fix my hair in the summer.

4. A website for friends...I'm not talking facebook or MySpace. I'm talking about something like Friend-Harmony (instead of e-harmony). That way when you move to a new place you could find friends who were also looking for friends with the same interests. (maybe this already exists?) I stated this need because we ALL know it's not cool to contact someone on MySpace if you don't know them.

5. Shoes with heaters in them. My feet are NEVER warm. It drives me crazy.

Kombucha....

Kombucha...it just sounds like a product that could heal you by saying the word three times. I actually have a mushroom in my fridge that I'm trying to gain courage to grow. Here's a list of the health benefits I've heard it has when people drink it daily.

1. Helps clear skin.
2. Helps with digestion.
3. Helps with prostrate problems.
4. Helps control diabetes.
5. Helps control weight.
6. Helps the immune system.

Does it not sound like a wonder product? Do you think I should try it or not?!?

Last FIVE books I've Read....

1. Their Eyes Were Watching God.

2. Five People You Meet in Heaven.

3. Love is a Decision.

4. The Memory Keepers Daughter.

5. Wuthering Heights.

I won't tell you how long it has taken me to complete these books. School tends to take priority over my love of reading. What are the last five books you read? Would you recommend them? I happened to enjoy all 5 of these books-except Love is a Decision-I just learned a lot from that one!

What's With That___?!?

Do you ever see things that make you say "What is With THAT _______!?!?" What do you usually fill the blank in with. Here's some of the top words that frequent my vocabulary.

1. Outfit...I try not to be too judging in this area..but some outfits definitely deserve a "what's with that?" statement....ex-People walking around the U of MN during the dead of winter with shorts on.

2. Hair....I definitely have seen some crazy hair in my life. There's a large family that goes to my local barnes and noble who I believe have never cut their hair (the men and women both) I always wonder how their shower drain works.

3. Car...I REALLY shouldn't be saying this since I drove a car that was two different colors with a huge smash on the sides...but hey...a hot pink mini-van with ground effects and spinners is definitely begging for attention.

4. Paint Job....you know the houses I'm talking about. The neon yellow ones with bright pink trim?? I'm sure everyone has one of those in their towns.

5. Bridesmaid dress....this actually makes me a little nervous since I will be getting married soon...but I know every woman has thought it at least once in her life!

Career Options I've Considered Throughout My Life.

1. Truck Driver...when I was younger, I thought this would be a good way to see the country.
2. Professional piano player. It was a dream as a child.
3. Chiropractor. This is something I thought I might do as a child. Now I'm so not into alternative medicine!
4. Physical Therapy. Occupational Therapy.
5. Teacher.
6. Lawyer.
7. House wife. (this was when i just couldn't think of anything I wanted to do!)
8. English teacher in a foreign country.
9. Nurse.
10.Fire Jumper. (I saw an episode on 20/20 when I was little about fire rescuers that jumped into burning forests out of airplanes...what was I thinking?)
11.Business woman. I wanted to wear the professional outfits!
12.Nutritionist.
Boy did I need some direction. What were some career options you considered throughout your life?

Most Inconveniant Times to CRY!!

Have you ever had the problem where you just can't hold your tears in...no matter HOW HARD you try...there they go...tricklin' down your nose. I've had that happen to me a lot since I start crying whenever I see someone else cry....I guess I'm tooo sympathetic of a person. Here's a list of moments that I wish I could have contained myself a little better.

1. In 6th grade I got out in the first round of the Geography bee....yep...I cried my whole way down that long aisle.

2. A couple of weeks ago my future in-laws were over at my fiance's house and we were watching a classic movie where a little girl was put in an orphanage...Yep...I started bawling on the couch.

3. One time in college the only day I forgot to bring my book to class was the day we had an open-book test. I definitely started crying...luckily, i still got an A...I took really good notes.

4. My friend Sarah is a very animated person. She started BAWLING out LOUD at the movie Titanic.....She was sobbing and saying "its' just soo sad!" (so this happened to a friend and not me...but i thought it was pretty funny)

5. I cried at my personal training job multiple times. Usually I was able to make it to the bathroom before I exploded into tears....but the stalls don't give much privacy. I actually had customer ask me if I was okay while I was in the stall bawling my eyes out. She was like "I hear you crying in there..is there anything I can help you with!?" Too bad I didn't have her take out all those sexist male trainers! WHewww...am I glad I'm not a trainer anymore.

6. This is actually about a time I DIDN'T cry and always thought I would...My engagement!! I was too ecstatic to cry!

7. Another time in front of the future in-laws... My parents sent me a christmas card since I wasn't able to be home with them. They said the most amazing thing and I started crying in front of EVERYONE. I was sooo embarrassed.

8. I cried my whole way to college (when I wasn't sleeping)...the trip was 13 hours. Ha ha..my poor parents.

9. I cried in the airport line once...and the security guards chose ME to have my bags checked and ME to be hand checked when I couldn't even keep it together just standing in line.

10. The most inconvenient time I cried was when I got stuck in an airport and everything was shut down. I called my friend Abbey and paced frantically back and forth while I sobbed to her on the phone. Ha...abbey...yer such a good friend...even though you DID laugh at me!

Some of the SCARIEST moments in my life.

1. Visiting the OBGYN...I think that's pretty scary.
2. Playing piano in front of 200 people....that makes me glad I don't really play anymore. I don't think I have EVER been so scared in my life. I'd rather go to the OBGYN 2 times a year than play the piano in front of so many people!
3. Moving to Cedarville University as a freshman. It was soooo far away from everything that I had known my entire life.
4. Becoming a personal trainer...with a bunch of sexist pigs as co-workers (okay...they weren't all sexist...only 99.9% of them)
5. Giving my first injection...
What are some of the scariest moments in your life?

A Few Things that Make Me Want to PUNCH something.

1. Continual changes of academic requirements. Instructors...please stick with the syllabus you outlined in the beginning. It's really not fair to add additional assignments during final weeks. (This not only makes me want to punch something..it also makes me grouchy and gives me the urge to scream).

2. Cleaning....at times it really, really makes me want to punch something..especially if I clean it and it is dirty two seconds later...although the finished product always makes me smile. I'm sure this is the case for everyone.

3. Exams...I hate studying for them. I could use some extra duty punching gloves this weekend (I have a huge final on monday)

4. Miscommunications. My mom and I are planning my wedding over the phone....this leads to some major miscommunications and at times can make me VERY frusterated. I love you mom!:)

5. People who stare at me when I'm using the gym equipment they want to be using. This is sooo rude....

6. Studying for tests longer than my classmates and then receiving lower grades...I hate that.

Now it's your turn to vent....what makes you want to punch something.

Words that Make Me FEEL smart.

Here's some words I like to throw into everyday conversation....everyone needs a couple of words that make them feel smart. Here's a few of mine...Add to my list so I can sound smarter than I really am!!!
1. Plebian
2. Constituents
3. Disconcerted
4. Nape
5. Coagulate
6. Aggregation

I think I've lost most of my vocabulary now that I am no longer an english major...:(

A Few More Things I Ponder...

1. If you had the choice of going to the bathroom in a dirty bathroom but with complete privacy or a sparkling clean bathroom with people right outside the door with no water to run and cover up noise...which would you choose?

mouii answer-I'd choose the private, yet not so clean bathroom....you can always wash your hands and hover....You can't plug peoples noses and ears for them....List your response to this one...I'd really like to know!!!

2. Would you rather get up really early every day or go to bed really late?

mouii answer-I'd rather get up early...I feel like I accomplish more that way.

3. Would you rather be a billionaire who lived in his/her parents basement or make an $20,000 dollars a year, but have your own apartment.

mouii answer...I'd take my own apartment...I love you mom and dad...but I'm ready to be on my own!!

4. Would you rather elope but get a huge diamond out of the deal, or have a huge wedding with no engagement ring ever?

my answer-I don't know..I really like my engagement ring!!!

Quirky things....

What are some quirky things you do or love? Here's a list of my quirky habits or loves...

1. For some reason I love to Swiffer. Swiffers were the most ingenious cleaning product ever invented.

2. I like to exercise, but I hate stretching. I am about as flexible as a wooden spoon.

3. I still sleep with a teddy bear...my arms need something to hug while I'm sleeping!!!....Cocoa Marshmallow will have to do until I say I do in 3 1/2 months (cocoa is a teddy bear I've had since I was 8)

4. I'd rather do dishes than cook a meal. I hate cooking.

Tell me some of your quirky habits or ect.